Sector Review: Action in the Basic Materials Sector on Dec 16th

A.M. Castle & Co. (NYSE:CAS): The shares closed at $8.90, up $0.89, or 11.11%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $205.10 million. About the company: A. M. Castle & Co. provides highly-engineered materials and value-added processing services to a variety of industrial companies. The Company distributes specialty metals, nickel alloys, aluminum, titanium, and copper and brass. A. M. Castle also provides materials management programs. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI): The shares closed at $57.76, up $4.73, or 8.92%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $6.53 billion. About the company: Valhi, Inc. is involved in the titanium dioxide pigments, component products, titanium metals products, and waste management industries. The Company produces titanium dioxide pigments, titanium metals products, ergonomic computer support systems, and precision ball bearing slides. Valhi also owns and operates a facility for the processing, treatment, and disposal of hazardous wastes. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL): The shares closed at $13.75, up $0.92, or 7.17%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $669.11 million. About the company: NL Industries, Inc. is primarily a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures products that include security products, precision ball bearing slides and ergonomic computer support systems, as well as chemicals such as titanium dioxide pigments. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE:SWC): The shares closed at $11.21, up $0.74, or 7.07%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $1.29 billion. About the company: Stillwater Mining Company explores for, develops, extracts, processes, and refines platinum, palladium, and associated metals from the J-M Reef located in Stillwater and the East Boulder Mine near McLeod, Montana. The Company also recycles automotive catalytic converters in its processing facility in Columbus, Montana. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Mercer International Inc. (NASDAQ:MERC): The shares closed at $6.35, up $0.4, or 6.72%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $354.20 million. About the company: Mercer International Inc. owns and operates market pulp and paper businesses in the southern German states of Saxony and Thuringia. The Company produces softwood kraft pulp, specialty papers, and printing and writing papers. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Losers (% price change)

Sappi Limited (NYSE:SPP): The shares closed at $2.63, down $0.17, or 6.07%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $1.37 billion. About the company: Sappi Ltd. produces coated fine paper and chemical cellulose. The Company also produces uncoated graphic and business papers, premium quality packaging papers and a range of specialty papers. Sappi has production operations in North America, Europe, and Southern Africa and sells its products internationally. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Quanex Building Products (NYSE:NX): The shares closed at $12.87, down $0.56, or 4.17%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $473.72 million. About the company: Quanex Building Products Corporation manufactures engineered materials and components for the building markets. The Company designs windows and door systems, and produces fabricated metal, wood and vinyl window and door components and other products for major window and door manufacturers. Quanex also produces coated and mill finish aluminum sheet products. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Universal Forest Products (NASDAQ:UFPI): The shares closed at $27.49, down $1.16, or 4.05%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $537.59 million. About the company: Universal Forest Products, Inc. engineers, manufactures, treats and distributes lumber products for the do-it-yourself (DIY), manufactured housing, industrial and site-built construction markets. The company distributes its products through home-center retailers, retail- and contractor-oriented regional lumberyards, and to builders and modular-home contractors. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Ferro Corporation (NYSE:FOE): The shares closed at $4.43, down $0.18, or 3.9%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $383.51 million. About the company: Ferro Corporation produces performance materials for industry by utilizing organic and inorganic chemistry. The Company produces a variety of coatings, colors, ceramics, chemicals, plastics, and related products. The Company’s primary markets are building and renovation, major appliances, household furnishings, transportation, industrial products, packaging, and leisure products. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

HORSEHEAD HOLDING CORP. (NASDAQ:ZINC): The shares closed at $8.50, down $0.3, or 3.41%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $371.42 million. About the company: Horsehead Holding Corporation produces specialty zinc and zinc-based products. The Company also owns and operates a 110 megawatt coal-fired power plant. Horsehead’s products are used in a wide variety of applications, including the galvanizing of fabricated steel products and as components in rubber tires, alkaline batteries, paint, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Most Actives (dollar volume)

Freeport-McMoRan Copper (NYSE:FCX): The shares closed at $36.99, up $0.12, or 0.33%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $35.06 billion. About the company: Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., through its subsidiary, is a copper, gold and molybdenum mining company. The Company primarily mines for copper and owns mining interests in Chile and Indonesia. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold also, through a subsidiary, is involved in smelting and refining of copper concentrates. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE:NEM): The shares closed at $62.18, up $0.42, or 0.68%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $30.77 billion. About the company: Newmont Mining Corporation acquires, explores, and develops mineral properties. The Company produces gold from operations in the United States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Ghana, Canada, New Zealand and Mexico. Newmont also mines and processes copper in Indonesia. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:ABX): The shares closed at $44.93, up $0.74, or 1.67%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $44.92 billion. About the company: Barrick Gold Corporation is an international gold company with operating mines and development projects in the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and Africa. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE:GG): The shares closed at $46.12, up $0.77, or 1.7%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $37.34 billion. About the company: Goldcorp, Inc. is a North American gold producer. The Company has gold mining operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. Goldcorp owns the Red Lake mine in Ontario. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

E.I. du Pont de Nemours (NYSE:DD): The shares closed at $43.98, up $0.28, or 0.64%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $40.63 billion. About the company: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company is a global chemical and life sciences company, with businesses that include agriculture and industrial biotechnology, chemistry, biology, materials science and manufacturing. The Company operates globally and offers a wide range of products and services for markets including agriculture and food, building and construction, electronics and communications. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

(Note: Selected financial data are sourced from Google Finance. All data are assumed to be accurate.)